Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force have concluded Operation FROME, a high-visibility road safety operation along some of the Territory’s most remote areas between 6am Thursday 22 May to 6am Saturday 24 May 2025.
The operation, led by the Territory Road Policing Division, was developed to reduce the incidence of serious and fatal crashes through enforcement, education, and engagement, while targeting the movement of illicit substances and alcohol into the Northern Territory.
Operation FROME involved a coordinated effort with officers from the Northern Command, Southern Command, Southern Investigations, Northern Investigations, Dog Operations Unit and the Drug and Organised Crime Division, delivering roadside enforcement and engagement at strategic locations including Timber Creek, NT/QLD Border and south of Alice Springs, in cooperation with Queensland Police.
Operational outcomes included:
1974 breath tests conducted, with 1 positive result for drink driving.
297 drug driver tests, resulting in 30 positive detections.
4 arrests and 22 Notices to Appear in court.
48 Traffic Infringement Notices issued, and 11 vehicles defected.
16 Drug Infringement Notices issued.
Drugs, alcohol, and cash seized included: 3.22kg of cannabis, 2.3g methamphetamine, 22g cocaine, 1.5g MDMA, 1.1g ketamine, 2.5kg of kava, 1 litre of alcohol, $31,428 in cash, and 3 imitation firearms (2 replica pistols and 1 replica AR-15)
The Territory Road Policing Division Superintendent Richard Magree said, “Overall we were very pleased with the majority of drivers, particularly commercial operators. It is, however, disappointing to see some individuals continuing to drive under the influence of drugs and attempting to traffic illicit substances across our borders.
“Driving under the influence remains a leading causal factor in fatal crashes across the Northern Territory. Police will continue to target this behaviour through operations like FROME.
“This remote operation is another reminder that Territory Road Policing can be anywhere at any time, and we continue to urge all drivers to remain vigilant and adhere to the Fatal Five.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Police are calling for information in relation to an altercation that occurred in Nhulunbuy early Saturday morning.
Around 12:15am, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a security officer had allegedly been stabbed during an altercation with a male in the carpark of a lodge on Westal Street.
It is alleged the male was previously banned from the location and when security officers approached him and asked him to leave an altercation occurred resulting in injuries to the male and the security officer being stabbed with a pair of scissors.
Police and St John Ambulance attended, and the male allegedly punched one of the officers in the face.
Both the security officer and the male were conveyed to Gove District Hospital for treatment with non-life-threatening injuries. The police officer did not require medical treatment.
Police urge anyone who witnessed the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number NTP2500055868. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
South Koreans will go to the polls in a snap election on Tuesday, voting for a president to replace Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted from office in April after his brief martial law attempt sent shockwaves through the country.
Here are key events from martial law to Yoon’s impeachment, arrest, and indictment, and election day.
December 3, 2024: Shortly before 10:30 p.m. (1330 GMT), Yoon declares on national television he is imposing martial law to root out “anti-state forces” and overcome political deadlock.
An hour later the military issues a decree banning activity by political parties and lawmakers, and troops and police descend on the opposition-controlled parliament. Staffers use barricades and fire extinguishers to ward off special operations soldiers who arrive by helicopter and break windows as they enter parliament.
Lawmakers hop fences to avoid the security cordons and crowds of protesters gather.
December 4: Defying the military’s order, 190 lawmakers in the early hours unanimously vote to reject Yoon’s declaration and troops begin to leave.
About three and a half hours later, Yoon gives another televised speech, announcing he is lifting martial law. The decree was in effect for about six hours.
Opposition parties submit motion to impeach Yoon.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell says Yoon “badly misjudged” his decision to declare martial law, which was “deeply problematic” and “illegitimate.”
December 5: Yoon’s People Power Party, although divided, decides to oppose his impeachment.
Yoon accepts the resignation of Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Police investigate Yoon, Kim and the interior minister on accusations of treason and related crimes over the declaration of martial law after opposition parties and activists filed complaints.
December 6: PPP leader Han Dong-hoon says Yoon must be removed from power for trying to impose martial law. Some party members urge Yoon to resign.
December 7: Yoon addresses the nation to apologise, saying he will put his fate in the hands of the PPP but not saying he will resign.
A vote to impeach Yoon fails as the PPP boycotts, depriving parliament of a quorum.
December 8: Prosecutors name Yoon as the subject of a criminal investigation over the martial law attempt. Ex-Defence Minister Kim is arrested.
December 9: The justice ministry bars Yoon from leaving South Korea.
December 10: Kwak Jong-geun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, tells a parliamentary committee that Yoon gave an order to “drag out” lawmakers from parliament after declaring martial law.
Ex-Defence Minister Kim attempts suicide in jail.
December 11: Police try to search Yoon’s office but are blocked from entering the building.
December 12: Yoon says in another televised speech he will “fight to the end”, alleging North Korea had hacked South Korea’s election commission and expressing doubt over his party’s landslide election defeat in April. The National Election Commission denies the claim.
December 14: Parliament impeaches Yoon with the support of 204 of the 300 lawmakers in the one-chamber parliament. At least 12 PPP members vote to impeach.
Yoon’s presidential powers are suspended, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo becomes acting president.
December 16: The Constitutional Court begins reviewing the impeachment case.
December 27: Parliament impeaches and suspends acting President Han, less than two weeks after suspending Yoon. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok assumes the position of acting president.
The court holds first public hearing in Yoon’s impeachment case.
December 31: The Seoul Western District Court approves an arrest warrant requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) after Yoon failed to appear for questioning over insurrection allegations.
Yoon’s lawyers say the arrest warrant is illegal and invalid because the CIO does not have the proper authority.
January 3: Presidential guards and military troops prevent authorities from arresting Yoon in a tense six-hour stand-off inside his compound in the heart of Seoul.
January 7: The Seoul Western District Court approves an extension of the arrest warrant after the CIO’s failed attempt.
January 14: The Constitutional Court adjourns the opening session of Yoon’s impeachment trial within minutes, after the embattled leader did not attend court.
January 15: Yoon agrees to leave his compound after around 3,000 police arrive for a second arrest attempt. Yoon says in a message he only submitted to avoid bloodshed, and the CIO says he refuses to answer questions. He is the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.
January 19: Hundreds of Yoon supporters storm a court building after his detention was extended, smashing windows and breaking inside. Yoon continues to refuse to answer questions.
January 21: Yoon attends his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court for the first time. When questioned by a justice, he denies ordering military commanders to drag lawmakers out of parliament.
January 23: The CIO transfers its case to prosecutors and asks them to indict Yoon for insurrection and abuse of power.
January 24-25: A court twice rejects requests by prosecutors for an extension of Yoon’s detention while they do further investigation.
January 26: Prosecutors indict Yoon on insurrection charges and ask that he be kept in custody.
February 4-18: Constitutional Court holds five hearings in Yoon’s impeachment trial.
February 20: Seoul Central District Court questions Yoon concerning lawyers’ request to cancel his arrest as “unlawful”, holds preparatory hearing for insurrection trial.
Constitutional Court holds 10th hearing in Yoon’s impeachment trial.
February 25: Court holds final hearing in Yoon’s impeachment trial. In his closing statement, Yoon defends his decisions as lawful and necessary to protect the country.
Yoon attended eight of the 11 hearings.
March 9: Yoon walks free after prosecutors decide not to appeal a court decision to cancel his arrest warrant on insurrection charges. He spent 54 days in jail.
April 4: The Constitutional Court rules to remove Yoon permanently from office.
April 8: Government sets June 3 as date for snap election.
April 27: The liberal Democratic Party names its former leader and 2022 presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung as its candidate.
May 1: Acting president Han steps down to launch presidential run. Finance minister Choi resigns after Democratic Party vows to start impeachment proceedings, leaving education minister Lee Ju-ho as the country’s third acting president since December.
The Supreme Court reverses an appeals court ruling that cleared Lee of criminal violations of election law, and ordered a new sentence, threatening his eligibility to run for office.
May 3: Yoon’s former labour minister, Kim Moon-soo, wins the main conservative People Power Party primary. Kim and Han spend the next week clashing over plans for a unity ticket.
May 7: Appeals court delays ruling on Lee until after election.
May 11: Han drops presidential bid after PPP confirms Kim as nominee.
Six people were injured on Sunday when a 45-year-old man yelled “Free Palestine” and threw incendiary devices into a crowd in Boulder, Colorado where a demonstration to remember the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza was taking place, authorities said.
Six victims aged between 67 and 88 years old were transported to hospitals, the FBI special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, Mark Michalek, said. At least one of them was in a critical condition, authorities said.
“As a result of these preliminary facts, it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism,” Michalek said.
Michalek named the suspect as Mohamed Soliman, who was hospitalized shortly after the attack.
FBI Director Kash Patel also described the incident as a “targeted terror attack,” and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said it appeared to be “a hate crime given the group that was targeted.” Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said he did not believe anyone else was involved.
“We’re fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody,” he said.
The attack took place on the Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian shopping district in the shadow of the University of Colorado, during an event organized by Run for Their Lives, an organization devoted to drawing attention to the hostages seized in the aftermath of Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel.
In a statement, the group said the walks have been held every week since then for the hostages, “without any violent incidents until today.”
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the United States over Israel’s war in Gaza, which has spurred both an increase in antisemitic hate crime as well as moves by conservative supporters of Israel led by President Donald Trump to brand pro-Palestinian protests as antisemitic. His administration has detained protesters of the war without charge and cut off funding to elite U.S. universities that have permitted such demonstrations.
In a post to X, a social network, Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Soliman had overstayed his visa and been allowed to work by the previous administration. He said it was further evidence of the need to “fully reverse” what he described as “suicidal migration.”
When asked about Soliman, the Department of Homeland Security said more information would be provided as it became available.
VICTIMS BURNED
Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old at the University of Colorado who witnessed the Boulder incident, said she saw four women lying or sitting on the ground with burns on their legs. One of them appeared to have been badly burned on most of her body and had been wrapped in a flag by someone, she said.
She described seeing a man whom she presumed to be the attacker standing in the courtyard shirtless, holding a glass bottle of clear liquid and shouting.
“Everybody is yelling, ‘get water, get water,’” Coffman said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a prominent Jewish Democrat, said it was an antisemitic attack.
“This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to antisemitism,” he said on X.
The attack follows last month’s arrest of a Chicago-born man in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C. Someone opened fire on a group of people leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights antisemitism and supports Israel.
The shooting fueled polarization in the United States over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis posted on social media that it was “unfathomable that the Jewish community is facing another terror attack here in Boulder.”
Paris St Germain held victory celebrations on the Champs Elysees and at their Parc des Princes stadium for thousands of cheering supporters on Sunday after crushing Inter Milan 5-0 to win their first Champions League title.
Dressed in the club’s blue-and-red colours, fans gathered in the French capital’s most famous avenue to welcome their Parisian heroes, just landed from Munich.
The players showed off the coveted trophy from their open top bus and joined in the crowd’s singing.
“We are the champions!”, “Ici c’est Paris!” (Paris is here) and other chants reverberated throughout the avenue.
The squad then headed for the nearby Elysee palace where they were greeted by President Emmanuel Macron.
“You won this Champions League, and you did it in a sublime, phenomenal way. You are the champions, and you put Paris at the top of Europe. And it was magnificent,” Macron said.
“We all felt the excitement. There were 11 of you on the pitch, but there was clearly a 12th man – the French public … regardless of traditional allegiances.”
PSG’s young team achieved what the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe could not do in their colours, becoming only the second French side to win the trophy after Olympique de Marseille in 1993.
“It’s unbelievable,” said one fan Leo Rogue, 22, standing in the middle of the packed crowd in a vintage PSG top. “I don’t have the words … We’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”
SECURITY LIMIT
Police capped numbers at 100,000 for security reasons.
Some youngsters climbed on scaffolding or news stands to better take in the moment.
Jamel, 55, was disappointed to be stopped near an entrance to the parade as numbers had reached a maximum, but was not letting that spoil his celebration.
“Yesterday I partied and today I’m partying,” he said.
Wild celebrations erupted across the French capital and beyond on Saturday night, although skirmishes with police later threatened to spoil the atmosphere.
The club condemned violence on X. “Paris St Germain calls on everyone to show responsibility and respect, for that historic win to remain a moment of pride shared by all,” it said.
At the Parc des Princes stadium on Sunday evening, police deployed tear gas when dozens of ticketless fans sought to enter the security perimeter.
Inside the arena, after a show that featured DJ Snake, the players came to greet the crowd with man-of-the-final Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and coach Luis Enrique the most cheered, before club president Nasser al Khelaifi and captain Mqrauinhos showed the trophy to the fans.
After the stadium emptied out, supporters threw fireworks at police, who responded with tear gas.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) hosted a roundtable discussion with local law enforcement officers and first responders focused on recruitment, retention, and public service. At the event, Rep. Houlahan announced the reintroduction of her Public Service Student Loan Payment Completion Fairness Act to make a long-overdue modernization to the PSLF Program and simplify the loan forgiveness process for public servants. This legislation, co-led by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), was endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police.
At present, the law requires applicants to be employed in a public service job at the time of student loan forgiveness. That means public servants who have dutifully completed their 120 payments and spent 10 years in public service may become ineligible for forgiveness if they change employers. Houlahan and Fitzpatrick’s legislation would simplify the process, improve applicant success rate, and incent more Americans to become public servants by removing the provision requiring individuals to be employed in public service at the time of forgiveness.
“When Pennsylvanians and Americans dedicate a decade or more of their lives to serving our communities, they deserve our support to cut through bureaucratic delays and receive the student loan forgiveness we have promised,” said Representative Houlahan. “Our community, Commonwealth, and country are made stronger because of dedicated public servants, and as a former AmeriCorps teacher, I’m proud to introduce this commonsense reform to help our nation’s teachers, law enforcement officers, first responders, nurses, and others.”
“Those who choose public service—whether in a classroom, a squad car, or a hospital ward—do so out of a sense of duty, not personal gain. They sacrifice, they serve, and many take on student debt to do it. Our bill ensures they’re not denied loan forgiveness because of a technicality. If we want to recruit and retain the best in public service, we must show service is respected, and commitments made will be commitments kept,” said Representative Fitzpatrick.
In a letter written to Representatives Houlahan and Fitzpatrick, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police Patrick Yoes endorsed the bill, adding, “An officer’s route for advancement is highly dependent on education, which can be a large hurdle for entry level officers who may not be able to afford higher education. Correcting the statute in this way would enable our nation’s public servants, who serve and protect their communities, to receive a better education and, in turn, will help them to be better law enforcement officers, first responders, and teachers.”
Reps. Houlahan and Fitzpatrick hope their bipartisan, commonsense legislation will improve applicant success. Data from the Department of Education demonstrates how the many ancillary requirements of the PSLF program significantly impede the applicant success rate. Out of the 442,277 individuals who met employment certification and Direct Loan requirements and submitted program forms through September 2021, 98% did not immediately qualify because they did not meet other PSLF requirements, such as the onerous provision addressed in this legislation.
Read bill text here.
Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, engineer, entrepreneur, educator, and nonprofit leader. She is serving her fourth consecutive term representing the people of Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. Houlahan is the first female veteran to be named as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee’s Military Personnel Subcommittee and a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Houlahan is also chair of the Economic Growth and Cost of Living Task Force on the New Democrat Coalition.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rose (TN-06)
WASHINGTON, DC—On Thursday, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) was granted access to more than 2,000 pages of documents relating to the Covenant School shooting that took place March 27, 2023 when three children and three adults were murdered in a planned and calculated attack. The access follows a multi-year call for transparency by Rep. Rose, which began with a 2023 letter sent weeks after the attack to then-FBI Director Christopher Wray and Metropolitan Nashville Police (MNPD) Chief John Drake, calling for the documents to be released.
Rep. Rose stated in the letter, “More than four weeks have passed since the heinous shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, yet countless mothers and fathers I represent are still awaiting answers.” He argued in the letter that “transparency is essential for those still grieving” and that “discussions of changing state or federal policy are futile without having an accurate account of the shooter’s state of mind, motives, preparation, and planning.”
The Biden FBI responded to the letter five months later, referring Rep. Rose to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). MNPD never responded or fulfilled the request. After years of effort, the Trump Administration and FBI Director Kash Patel approved Rep. Rose’s request and allowed him to view the documents.
Rep. Rosereleased a video statement after viewing the documents. You can view it here.
The verbatim reads:
I was just granted access to many documents relating to the Covenant School shooting tragedy investigation by the FBI.
What I saw would disturb anyone, especially a parent. The documents are a painful reminder of the devastation that victims, including their families and friends, endure every day. Their lives are no doubt forever changed.
Today, as difficult as it was to view this material, it was also important for transparency in government. We must never accept the kind of censorship we saw surrounding this shooter. In no other mass tragedy do we see every piece of evidence shielded from the public.
While we certainly don’t want to enable copycat attempts or glorify mass killers, we also need the full scope of facts in situations such as this to prevent them in the future.
Like many of you, I have long suspected some of this information was shielded from public view because this shooter considered herself to be transgender.
After having read through the evidence, I remain convinced that there is no good justification for keeping most of the evidence from the public square. No reasonable person would object to certain redactions, just as no reasonable person who believes in the First Amendment would condone the widespread censorship we saw from the Biden FBI and frankly Metro Nashville Police. Weeks after this tragedy, I sent two letters calling on then-FBI Director Christopher Wray and Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake to release the documents or provide a written reason as to why not and a timeline on when it would be released.
At the time, there were a lot of discussions surrounding state and federal gun policy. I argued those discussions were premature without first knowing what happened. Countless Tennesseans still want to know about the mental state of the shooter and many other factors that contributed to this tragedy. The report from Metro Nashville, released about a month ago, calls the killer sane. I just read through about 2,000 pages of reasons why that is false.
Less than 100 days after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate, FBI Director Kash Patel is well on his way to fulfilling his goal of restoring confidence in the bureau. As our nation’s top law enforcement agency, trust and transparency are essential. I want to thank him for his leadership on behalf of each and every Tennessee family I represent and beyond.
And I want to thank President Trump for following through on his promise to end woke policies in government and restore trust in our institutions.
Ground search efforts were underway today in the area of Gairloch Rd., Lansdowne Station, as the missing persons investigation into the disappearance of Lilly and Jack Sullivan continues.
Seventy-eight trained searchers from nine ground search and rescue organizations, including, Colchester County, Pictou County, Halifax, Strait Area, East Hants, Eastern Shore, Musquodoboit Valley, Pugwash, and Eastern Shore, were engaged today in an effort to advance the ongoing investigation and locate Lilly and Jack.
Searchers continued to focus on specific areas around Gairloch Rd. and the nearby pipeline, where a boot print was previously located. A total of 8.5 square kilometres has now been grid-searched.
The search was supported by Nova Scotia Public Safety Field Communications and EHS Emergency Preparedness Special Operations.
The Nova Scotia RCMP would like to thank all of the search and rescue volunteers who have dedicated more than 10,000 hours of their time, searching in very challenging conditions, to help find Lilly and Jack and support the missing persons investigation.
Any future searches will be determined based on the course of the investigation.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 2, 2025.
Your smartphone is a parasite, according to evolution Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachael L. Brown, Director of the Centre for Philosophy of the Sciences and Associate Professor of Philosophy, Australian National University vchal/shutterstock, The Conversation Head lice, fleas and tapeworms have been humanity’s companions throughout our evolutionary history. Yet, the greatest parasite of the modern age is no blood-sucking
As the NRL edges into Darwin, does the AFL need to be more proactive in the NT? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney The Northern Territory government recently announced the Dolphins, the NRL’s newest team that entered the league in 2023, would play a home game at TIO Stadium in Darwin every year from 2026 to 2028. The Dolphins
What is populism? Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Moffitt, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Monash University In 2017, in the wake of Brexit and Donald Trump’s first election win, populism was named the “word of the year” by Cambridge University Press. Almost a decade later, we might have thought the term’s popularity
Bougainville wants independence. China’s support for a controversial mine could pave the way Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna-Karina Hermkens, Senior Lecturer and Researcher, Anthropology, Macquarie University Bougainville, an autonomous archipelago currently part of Papua New Guinea, is determined to become the world’s newest country. To support this process, it’s offering foreign investors access to a long-shuttered copper and gold mine. Formerly owned by the
Australia’s plan to protect its trade in war is flawed. We can’t do it with nuclear submarines Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Palazzo, Adjunct Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra, UNSW Sydney If war breaks out someday between the United States and China, one of the major concerns for Australia is the impact on its trade. Our trade routes are long and
Three years after the Jenkins report, there is still work to be done on improving parliament culture Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Maley, Senior Lecturer in Politics, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University Three and a half years ago, then-sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins’ Set the Standard report was handed to federal parliament, commissioned after Brittany Higgins’ allegations of sexual assault in Parliament House, which
Police aren’t properly trained for mental health crises – but they’re often the first responders. Here’s what works better Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panos Karanikolas, Research officer, Melbourne Social Equity Institute, The University of Melbourne Rosie Marinelli/Shutterstock In an emergency, police are often the first called to the scene. But they are rarely equipped to deal with complex mental health crises. Following recent parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions there has
These 5 roadblocks are standing in the way of energy-efficient homes Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jaime Comber, Senior Research Consultant in Energy Futures, University of Technology Sydney Westend61, GettyImages We all want homes that keep us warm in winter and cool in summer, without breaking the bank. However, Australian homes built before 2003 have a low average energy rating of 1.8 stars
With interest rates on the way down, could house prices boom? Here’s what research suggests Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Graham, Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney Jenny Evans/Stringer/Getty With the Reserve Bank of Australia easing monetary policy, interest rates are on the way down. Already this year, mortgage pre-approvals had begun to rise, suggesting many aspiring home buyers are excited by the prospect of
Scandalous mormons, dystopian Buenos Aires and Nicolas Cage down under: what to watch in June Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claudia Sandberg, Senior Lecturer, Technology in Culture and Society, The University of Melbourne As we head into a new month of streaming, here’s a fresh wave of TV ready to challenge, transport and entertain you. This month’s picks span genre and geography, from an eerie dystopian Buenos
How Israel manufactured a looting crisis to cover up its Gaza famine By Muhammad Shehada Since the onset of its genocide, Israel has persistently pushed a narrative that the famine devastating Gaza is not of its own making, but the result of “Hamas looting aid”. This claim, repeated across mainstream media and parroted by officials, has been used to deflect responsibility for what many human rights experts
PNG faces deadline for fixing issues with money laundering and terrorist financing ANALYSIS: By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent Papua New Guinea has five months remaining to fix its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) systems or face the severe repercussions of being placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) “grey list”. The FATF has imposed an October 2025 deadline, and the government is scrambling
Phil Goff: Israel doesn’t care how many innocent people, children it’s killing COMMENTARY: By Phil Goff “What we are doing in Gaza now is a war of devastation: indiscriminate, limitless, cruel and criminal killing of civilians. It’s the result of government policy — knowingly, evilly, maliciously, irresponsibly dictated.” This statement was made not by a foreign or liberal critic of Israel but by the former Prime Minister
As we head into a new month of streaming, here’s a fresh wave of TV ready to challenge, transport and entertain you.
This month’s picks span genre and geography, from an eerie dystopian Buenos Aires, to a witty, awkward cyborg hero. Reality TV also gets a scandalous twist with the return of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. And Deaf President Now! delivers a powerful documentary on a historical milestone for Deaf rights.
There’s something for every kind of viewer — and every kind of mood.
The Eternaut
Netflix
Argentine sci-fi The Eternaut opens with a group of old friends in Buenos Aires meeting to play the card game truco on a hot summer night – when things suddenly get eerie.
The power goes out and a poisonous snowfall starts to blanket the city, killing thousands of people instantly. The survivors must get answers, quickly, as they start to grasp the true strength of their invisible enemy.
Based on Héctor Germán Oesterheld’s 1950s comic of the same name, The Eternaut portrays apocalypse through a deeply local and political lens – and in doing so has struck a chord in Argentina.
Directed by Bruno Stagnaro and led by Argentine film icon Ricardo Darín, as protagonist Juan Salvo, the series emphasises the power of collective heroism, and subtly critiques the current government’s uncompromising neoliberal approach.
It also pulses with national pride. Buenos Aires is not glamorized; real neighbourhoods are shown as classic Argentine tango, rock and folk plays in the background. Most importantly, Argentine identity is celebrated through themes of community spirit, grassroots resistance, and ingenuity in times of crisis.
The Eternaut feels both timely and timeless. Its slogan, “no one survives alone,” resonates for a country that has been long marked by both trauma and resistance efforts.
Its emotional weight is further deepened by Oesterheld’s legacy, including the tragic disappearance of him and his family members under the military rule of the 1970s.
With a second season on the way, this series is a powerful ode to Argentina.
Murderbot, Apple’s adaptation of Martha Wells’ science-fiction novella, All Systems Red (2017) is a satisfying combination of action, sci-fi and comedy. The show centres on a security unit (SecUnit) – an indentured private security cyborg – who secretly cracks the programming of its governing chip, granting itself autonomy.
Murderbot (Alexander Skarsgård), as it dubs itself, is both horrified and fascinated by humans. It’s far more afraid of eye contact, emotions and direct conversation than any physical danger. It’s also obsessed with mainlining media, particularly the ridiculous soap opera The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon.
Murderbot is hired, reluctantly, by some hippy scientists from a group of “freehold” planets – ones that exist outside the Corporation Rim – to act as protection on a scientific expedition. It goes quickly awry.
Wells’ award-winning novella, the first in an equally good series, limits us to the first-person perspective of the sarcastic cyborg. The series expands this frame beautifully, building on the source material’s dry humour to create a world that is both goofy and grounded.
And while there are serious themes at play, such as the way SecUnits are effectively enslaved, and the violent capitalist dominance of the Corporation Rim, the show is not heavy. Skarsgård offers a pitch-perfect performance of the awkward, anxious robot – its eyes flickering in horror as the scientists try to befriend it.
The opening minutes of the first episode are clumsy and on-the-nose, but ignore them. This otherwise well-designed and well-directed show cracks along with brisk, highly-entertaining 22-minute episodes.
– Erin Harrington
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, season two
Disney+
Season one of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives had us hooked at the end of 2024. Now, the women have returned for an explosive 10-episode second season.
The reality series follows a group of Mormon women living in Utah. While the title may have you anticipating stories of faith and motherhood, the show is more focused on the personal lives of Mormon mothers who rose to TikTok fame due to scandal and infamy.
Season one saw the women grapple with balancing traditional Mormon values with their online lives and subsequent businesses (along with the fallout from a “soft-swinging scandal”). Season two further highlights infidelity, jealously and money.
Old characters are brought back, with finger-pointing ex-husbands and former alienated friends adding to the fray. Police are called, insults are thrown and many of the women delve deeper into their pasts.
The show flips flops between difficult moments such as processing the death of loved ones and difficult pregnancies, with parties and poorly executed party games. At one point the women play pregnancy roulette (a game no one should recommend), and take pregnancy tests which are anonymously read out to the group. Chaos ensues.
And after watching, you can search for the TikTok accounts of the stars and watch new drama unfold in real-time – or watch them “correct” and expand on past situations based on their own perspectives – far removed from show’s editors.
– Edith Jennifer Hill
Deaf President Now!
Apple TV+
Deaf President Now! is a stirring documentary about an iconic student uprising at Gallaudet University, the world’s only Deaf university, in 1988. The film chronicles how Deaf students – tired of being led by hearing leadership – decided to take things in their own hands come the 1988 Gallaudet presidential election.
With two of the three candidates being Deaf, the appointment of Elisabeth Zinser, a hearing candidate unfamiliar with Deaf culture, sparked outrage. Fuelled by decades of marginalisation, the students barricaded campus gates, burned effigies of Zinser and marched to the Capitol, calling for Deaf leadership in Deaf spaces.
It worked. The protest forced Zinser’s resignation and ushered in Irving King Jordan, Gallaudet’s first Deaf president.
The film juxtaposes historic footage with present-day interviews with key leaders of the movement, allowing them to tell their stories their own way. These reflections, delivered in American Sign Language (ASL), underscore how storytelling itself can become an act of resistance for Deaf people.
At the same time, the documentary wrestles with a paradox. Co-directed by Deaf activist Nyle DiMarco and hearing filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, the film exemplifies how Deaf storytelling still often has hearing involvement, especially when the story is packaged for a mainstream audience.
Nevertheless, the release of Deaf President Now! couldn’t have been more timely. With disability rights in the United States threatened under Trump, the film is a call to action. It reminds us Deaf culture isn’t just about language: it’s about Pride, self-determination and visibility.
In Lorcan Finnegan’s The Surfer, our unnamed protagonist (Nicolas Cage) is returning to his former Australian home from the United States. He is newly divorced, and trying to buy a beachside property to win back his family.
He takes his teenage son (Finn Little) for a surf near the property, but they are run off by an unfriendly pack of locals.
Returning alone to the beachside car park to make some calls, he is besieged there by the same gang, and this continues over the next several days. The gang is led by a terrifying middle-aged Andrew Tate-esque influencer, Scally (Julian McMahon), who runs the beach like a combination of a frat bro party and wellness retreat.
It is impossible to think of an actor other than Cage who could make a character like this so enjoyable to watch. Cage’s distinctively American confidence has no resistance to the terrifying switches of Australian masculinity from friendly to teasing to violent.
The Surfer is an absolute blast. A lot of the fun is in anticipating each dreadful humiliation – and it somehow turning out worse than you could have expected.
The Surfer beautifully captures the natural surroundings, stunning views and shimmering heat of Australian coastal summer. At the same time, a confined, semi-urban feature like a beachside car park feels bleak and uninviting.
As a film setting, it is both a spectacular wide-open vista and stiflingly claustrophobic – a perfect mechanism for The Surfer’s psychological horror.
The story of serial killers, Fred and Rose West, has been highly narrativised since their shocking crimes were discovered in Gloucester in 1994. The horror of the Wests lies in the juxtaposition of their seemingly ordinary suburban family and what was hidden beneath the foundations of their home.
Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story takes us back to the moment of that revelation via previously unheard interview tapes and recordings of the property search – and of Rose while she was kept in a safe house. Family home videos add to the disturbing sense of the couple’s duplicity.
Interviews with the family of some of the victims emphasise the ongoing pain caused by the Wests, who preyed on vulnerable young women. Meanwhile, Fred’s interviews reinforce his determination to protect his wife: “I trained Rose to do what I wanted. That is why our marriage worked out so well.”
Many details of the Wests’ true horror, however, are absent: the incredible torture suffered by the victims; Fred and Rose’s own childhoods of abuse and Fred’s earlier assault of young girls, including his own sister; and any reference to the couple’s surviving children and the extraordinary abuse they suffered.
The horror of this new documentary is present in the couple’s habitual lies, their casual attitude to violence and murder, and their refusal to take responsibility for their many crimes. Yet it only scratches the surface of the Wests’ true horror story.
– Jessica Gildersleeve
The Four Seasons
Netflix
The Four Seasons follows three 50-something affluent couples as they holiday together over the course of a year.
Friends since college, the group’s easy camaraderie is upended by Nick’s (Steve Carroll) bombshell decision to leave his seemingly unsuspecting wife, Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), after 25 years of marriage. The announcement sends shockwaves through the other couples, testing their own relationships.
Adapted from Alan Alda’s bittersweet 1981 comedy of the same name, the series preserves the film’s narrative conceit, unfolding over four seasonal mini trips. Episode one opens in full spring at Nick and Anne’s bucolic lake house.
Given the luxury on display, you’d be forgiven for mistaking The Four Seasons as another entry in the “rich-people-behaving-badly” genre. But while there’s plenty of quips and snarky humour, what unfolds is ultimately much kinder – less a scathing indictment of wealth and more a gentle exploration of the banalities of love and middle age.
The show’s creators make the most of the expanded running time to humanise the sextet. The open marriage between gregarious Italian Claude (Marco Calvini) and husband Danny (a marvellous Colman Domingo) updates the source material without sliding into tokenism or homonormativity.
The prickly Type-A Kate (Tina Fey) and peacekeeper Jack (Will Forte) provide the series’ beating heart, in a relationship that feels lived-in and familiar.
Despite its focus on ageing, loss, mortality and grief, The Four Seasons offers comfort viewing at its finest, best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a loved one who’s known you for decades.
– Rachel Williamson
Gemma King receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Claudia Sandberg, Edith Jennifer Hill, Erin Harrington, Grace Russell, Jessica Gildersleeve, Rachel Williamson, Samuel Martin, and Sofya Gollan do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Stage four of a major state-wide South Australia Police (SAPOL) operation has garnered impressive results in the fight against domestic and family violence, including 66 arrests across a recent two-week period.
Operation Storm’s fourth dedicated anti-domestic abuse operation ran from April 28, 2025, to May 12, 2025, with 331 police officers targeting 411 offenders and attending 408 addresses throughout the state to locate high risk domestic abuse offenders, issue intervention orders and ensure offender’s bail conditions were met.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Linda Williams said, overall, Operation Storm has improved the safety of hundreds of victims and children in South Australia.
Operation Storm has resulted in the arrest of 311 domestic abuse offenders and the issue of 98 intervention orders since its commencement in July 2024.
Within the eight weeks of dedicated days to Operation Storm in the 2024/2025 period, SAPOL has utilised 1175 police members to investigate 1423 domestic violence offenders in South Australia, seeing 1636 addresses attended and 516 support referrals for offenders to access rehabilitation services.
“The recent days of action demonstrate we will continue to check on high-risk individuals, we will take action against offending, we will monitor compliance of bail and intervention order condition to help protect victims and prevent future domestic and family violence offending,” Deputy Commissioner Williams said.
“I commend the hundreds of dedicated officers across the state for their commitment to deterring domestic abuse and referring offenders to behaviour change programs.
“This operation sends a strong message that domestic and family violence will not be tolerated, and those who commit serious criminal offences will be held accountable and can expect to come to the attention of SAPOL.”
The conclusion of the first 12 months of Operation Storm has seen the following outcomes:
Arrests 311
Reports 73
Warrants cleared 71
Offences charged 657
Bail compliance checks 239
Intervention Orders issued 98
Support referral provided 516
Firearm Prohibition Order searches 26
Stalking Cautions issued 17
During Stage 4 of the Operation a 22-year-old Evanston Gardens man was among the arrests following a domestic disturbance. Police attended his home after he threatened to stab the family dog and then threatened family members with a knife. He was arrested for Aggravated Assault, Property Damage, and Assaulting an Emergency Services worker.
In another case, a 44-year-old Berri man, who is recorded as a high-risk domestic abuse offender, was arrested for five counts of Aggravated Assault and Cause Harm, including several strangulation offences. The man was taken into custody, and a full non-contact police intervention was issued at the Berri Magistrates Court. The man was remanded in custody.
“All members of our community have a right to be safe, and we encourage anyone experiencing family and domestic violence to contact police,” Deputy Commissioner Williams added.
“If you’re not confident or comfortable in talking to a police officer, go to a family violence service provider and they will assist you and contact police if necessary.
“We continue to monitor and assess risk, while sharing the information with other services as part of a multi-agency response.”
Meanwhile, Operation Storm has strengthened accountability for people who choose to use violence with specific and measurable targets, as outlined it the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032.
If this media release has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732 or by visiting www.1800respect.org.au. Help and support are also available through Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call triple zero.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-9)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, as part of National Police Week, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.Res. 364, the Gold Shield Families Resolution, introduced by Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09). The bipartisan resolution recognizes the families of fallen first responders as “Gold Shield Families” and calls on local communities to support nonprofit organizations that provide them with comfort, connection, and healing as they face profound loss.
“Of all the priorities we face in Congress, none is more fundamental than ensuring public safety and protecting human life,” said Congressman Meuser. “And that responsibility rests squarely on the shoulders of our police officers, firefighters, EMTs, correction officers, and dispatchers. These are the people on the front lines of our communities, putting themselves in danger every single day to keep the rest of us safe. They are the thin gold line that holds society together.”
Meuser continued, “As the son of a police officer and the grandson of a firefighter, I’ve seen the risks they take and the sacrifices their families quietly endure. When the worst happens—when a life is lost in the line of duty—it’s the family that carries the burden of that sacrifice. This resolution ensures that sacrifice is acknowledged, honored, and remembered.”
Just as we recognize the families of fallen servicemembers as “Gold Star Families,” this resolution ensures the families of fallen first responders are known and acknowledged as Gold Shield Families. It also calls on local communities to support the nonprofit organizations that serve them. These groups provide critical services—offering connection, care, and healing to families navigating life after unimaginable loss. The resolution also encourages Gold Shield Families to seek out these trusted resources as they carry forward the legacy of their loved ones.
The resolution was inspired by Camp Freedom, a nonprofit in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, that provides outdoor healing experiences to disabled veterans, first responders, and their families, as well as to Gold Shield and Gold Star Families. The idea for the resolution was brought forward by Camp Freedom Executive Director Matt Guedes, a veteran and lifelong advocate for those who serve.
“First responders run toward danger—and many of them do it as volunteers or on a modest income,” said Guedes. “They put their lives on the line for others, and when one of them is lost, their families are often left with nothing more than a well-meaning spaghetti dinner or a firehouse fundraiser. That’s kind, but it’s not enough. These families go home without their husband, their wife, their mother or father—and without the income or support they once had. Their grief is real, their financial strain is real, and the gap in long-term care is wide.”
Guedes continued, “This resolution is so important because it recognizes those families and helps direct attention and resources to where they’re truly needed. Nonprofits like Camp Freedom are ready to stand in that gap—to walk with these families not just in the days after a loss, but for the months and years that follow. But recognition is the first step. With this resolution, we’re finally saying as a nation: we see your pain, we value your sacrifice, and we’re here for you.”
To date, Camp Freedom has served more than 12,000 veterans, first responders, and servicemember families across the country. Congressman Meuser also credited Camp Freedom founder Bill Bachenberg for his vision and leadership in making that mission possible.
“This resolution may be just two pages long—but its message is powerful,” Meuser concluded. “It says to every Gold Shield Family: your loved one’s service mattered. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten—and neither will yours. And to every community: recognize these families, lift them up, and walk with them through their grief. Together, we can ensure their resilience is met with gratitude—and their loss is never faced alone.”
Congressman Meuser spoke on the House floor in favor of H.Res. 364here.
BOULDER – Governor Polis released the following statement condemning today’s attack in Boulder. Governor Polis continues to monitor the situation.
“My thoughts go out to the people who have been injured by this heinous and targeted act on the Jewish community. Boulder is strong. We have overcome tragedies together and will get through this together as a community. I’ve spoken with Boulder Mayor Brockett, and my administration is working closely with local and federal law enforcement on this afternoon’s attack. I thank the first responders who ran to help the injured and ensure victims received medical attention needed and to apprehend the suspect. As the Jewish community reels from the recent antisemitic murders in Washington, D.C., it is unfathomable that the community is facing another antisemitic attack here in Boulder, on the eve of the holiday of Shavuot. Several individuals were brutally attacked while peacefully drawing attention to the plight of hostages who have been held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for 604 days. Hate is unacceptable in our Colorado for all, and I condemn this act of terror. The suspect should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Governor Jared Polis.
More information will be provided as it becomes available. The Boulder Office of Disaster Management (ODM) has activated its emergency operations center in response to the incident and is sharing important information related to open shelters and incident updates on its webpage at boulderodm.gov/. Please use that page for verified resources. Boulder Police and the FBI will be leading on this investigation, and the state has offered any support it can provide, including State Patrol presence at the command post and direct support from the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management through the Colorado Information Analysis Center and Office of Emergency Management.
We are aware of six victims wounded in today’s attack between the ages of 67 and 88, including two with serious injuries. There is one suspect, Mohammed Sabry Soliman, in custody. Several blocks in downtown Boulder remain closed as officials look for any additional devices. This is an active investigation.
South Australia Police (SAPOL) has once again joined emergency services partners to rescue winter blood supplies as part of a lifesaving campaign.
Today Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens joined forces with other agencies to launch the 2025 Emergency Services Blood Drive at South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) headquarters.
The blood drive, held annually by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood from 1 June to 31 August, calls on emergency services workers to compete in a special type of battle and make the highest number of blood and plasma donations.
“Our members are always onboard to help others, and I encourage them to continue making a life-changing impact by rolling up their sleeves and donating,” Commissioner Stevens said.
“Police often attend incidents where people have been seriously injured, and we understand firsthand that the need for blood is ongoing.
“I encourage all SAPOL staff and their family members who are able to donate via the South Australia Police Lifeblood team and contribute to this incredible cause.”
Last year overall SAPOL’s Lifeblood team helped save 6381 lives through 2127 donations: 963 blood, 1138 plasma, and 26 platelet.
Through the 2024 Emergency Services Blood Drive alone, SAPOL made 578 donations: 264 blood, 301 plasma, and 13 platelet – helping to save 1734 lives.
Recently, the Bleed 4 Blue Blood Drive from 1 December 2024 to 28 February 2025 also saw SAPOL’s team make 594 donations, helping to save 1782 lives.
In this current drive, SAPOL will compete against SA-based Australian Federal Police, SA Country Fire Service, SA Ambulance Service, St John Ambulance, SA Metropolitan Fire Service, SA Department of Correctional Services, SA State Emergency Service, Royal Flying Doctor Service and Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service – Airservices Australia.
“SAPOL’s efforts last year saw our team keep the state trophy and jump one place up the national leader board,” Commissioner Stevens added.
“We hope anyone in the community who is able to donate will be inspired by the efforts of police and our fellow first responders and will take the short time out of their day to make a lifesaving donation.”
Five metropolitan donor centres: Adelaide (Regent Donor Centre), Marion, Port Adelaide, Noarlunga, and Modbury are open for donations. Pop-up and mobile donor centres are also operating in metropolitan and regional areas.
Only donations made during the challenge period (1 June – 31 August) count towards the tally, however, Lifeblood Teams operate year-round.
To book a donation visit lifeblood.com.au, call 13 14 95 or download the donate blood app.
Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens joined forces with other agencies to launch the 2025 Emergency Services Blood Drive at South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) headquarters this morning. He encourages those who are able to donate.
Senior Constable Bennett donating plasma for SAPOL’s Lifeblood team on Monday.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Missing man in Wong Tai Sin located
A man who went missing in Wong Tai Sin has been located.
Li Yiu-ming, aged 65, went missing after he left his residence in Ching Hong House, Tsz Ching Estate in the afternoon on May 28. His family made a report to Police on May 29.Issued at HKT 7:51
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has urgently warned the public to exercise extreme caution when meeting up with strangers through online dating and social media platforms.
In a statement on Friday, the Portfolio Committee said this follows alarming reports of kidnappings, robberies, and targeted attacks in the Maboneng precinct. This as the committee conducted an unannounced oversight visit to the Jeppe Police Station on Thursday.
During the visit, Station Management briefed the Committee on a disturbing trend where victims from across Gauteng are lured to Maboneng through hookup apps, only to be kidnapped, robbed, or assaulted.
“The Committee expressed concern that these crimes follow a similar pattern to the Olorato Mongale murder case, where victims are deceived by strangers they meet in malls or online before being attacked.
“Of particular concern is the recent arrest of a gang operating in the Maboneng area that specifically targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual]community. The Committee condemns these crimes in the strongest terms and calls for heightened vigilance from all citizens,” the statement read.
The Committee welcomed the recent progress in the Olorato Mongale brutal murder case where one of the suspects was killed in a shootout with police in KwaZulu Natal.
“While the Committee commends the police for these breakthroughs…justice must be served for Olorato and all victims of these heinous crimes,” the Committee said.
The Committee also called on citizens to be vigilant as meeting strangers from online platforms carries serious risks.
“For their safety, the Committee advises the public to avoid meeting strangers from apps in isolated or unfamiliar areas, inform trusted contacts about meetup plans, verify identities through video calls before meeting, and immediately report suspicious activity to the SAPS [South African Police Service],” the Committee said. – SAnews.gov.za
Law enforcement will not rest until another suspect in the murder of journalist Olorato Mongale is apprehended, Police Deputy Minister Dr Polly Boshielo said.
The 30-year-old was killed last Sunday after leaving her Johannesburg home when she went on a date with her alleged killer. Her body was found hours later in Lombardy East, sparking a multi-provincial manhunt for the suspects.
Speaking at her funeral service held at City Hall in Bloemfontein on Sunday, Dr Boshielo called on the public and for those who know the suspect to advise him to hand himself over to the nearest police station.
“We will also not rest until we find Bongani Mthimkhulu. If you know him, advise him to surrender to the nearest police station,” she said.
The Deputy Minister emphasised that the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) is committed to combating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
“The fight against gender-based violence and femicide is a national priority for the South African Police Service, and it is for this very reason that maximum resources are always deployed to investigate GBVF cases and also track down GBVF perpetrators,” she said.
Upon learning of the case last Sunday, the SAPS swiftly mobilised resources, including the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Team and the Gauteng Provincial Investigating Unit, to assist the Sandringham police station in tracking down the perpetrator known as “John.”
The investigation led authorities to a lodge in Kew, Johannesburg, and subsequently to KwaZulu-Natal, where they discovered a VW Polo vehicle with traces of blood. The vehicle was linked to Philangenkosi Makhanya, who was identified as “John.”
On Friday morning, police located Makhanya at a block of apartments in Amanzimtoti. When police announced their arrival, he opened fire, and officers returned fire, resulting in his death at the scene.
In his possession, police found more than 27 ID smart cards belonging to various men and about 20 cellphones.
Dr. Boshielo revealed that Makhanya and his accomplice, Bongani Mthimkhulu, operated a syndicate targeting women across various malls in the country.
“We are still searching for Bongani Mthimkhulu because we have narrowed our investigation and now know that Philangenkosi Makhanya and Bongani Mthimkhulu were working together and they were a syndicate that was targeting women in various malls across the country,” she said.
The investigation has linked the duo to 22 cases of kidnapping and robbery, with women from across the country positively identifying them as the perpetrators.
Highlighting the broader impact of the syndicate’s activities, Boshielo noted that similar cases have been reported in Bloemfontein, Nelspruit, Midrand, Pretoria, Potchefstroom, Lebowakgomo in Limpopo, and Johannesburg.
Addressing the family at the funeral service, Dr. Boshielo reassured them of the government’s commitment to justice.
“To the family, to the mother Poppy, we may not have been able to prevent the death of your child but be rest assured that one of her perpetrators is in permanent custody and will never rise up again to terrorize other women,” she said.
The Deputy Minister called for collaborative effort to end GBVF.
“GBVF is a crime that happens behind closed doors between two people that know each other and where we cannot always be as the police. Let’s all stand together and work together to put a stop to GBVF in our country,” the Deputy Minister said.
Police clear Fezile Ngubane
In a statement on Saturday, the SAPS informed the nation that Fezile Ngubane who was initially identified as a suspect in a syndicate targeting young women has been cleared.
This as Ngubane’s father handed him over to the KwaMashu police station on Friday when he learnt that his son was sought by police in the Olorato murder case.
“A multidisciplinary team led by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection in Gauteng Major General Mbuso Khumalo,the SAPS National Anti-kidnapping task team, KZN and Gauteng Provincial Investigating Unit (PIU)have now cleared Ngubane following a thorough interview and preliminary investigation.
“According to a preliminary report, Ngubane washes cars for a living and stays in the same neighbourhood as deceased Philangenkosi Makhanya,” said the SAPS.
Makhanya allegedly identified Ngubane as a soft target and took his ID smart card and used it to Rica SIM cards that Makhanya would use to commit his long list of kidnapping and robbery crimes targeted at young women. Ngubane’s ID was found as part of the 27 ID smart cards found in possession of Makhanya.
“The SAPS has also released the parents of one of the two suspects in the case after their statements were taken down. Police are sitting with at least twenty cases where women have come forward identifying the suspects as those that kidnapped and robbed them.
The search for Bongani Mthimkulu continues and police once again call on Mthimkhulu to hand himself over at his nearest police station,” the police said on Saturday. –SAnews.gov.za
As we head into a new month of streaming, here’s a fresh wave of TV ready to challenge, transport and entertain you.
This month’s picks span genre and geography, from an eerie dystopian Buenos Aires, to a witty, awkward cyborg hero. Reality TV also gets a scandalous twist with the return of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. And Deaf President Now! delivers a powerful documentary on a historical milestone for Deaf rights.
There’s something for every kind of viewer — and every kind of mood.
The Eternaut
Netflix
Argentine sci-fi The Eternaut opens with a group of old friends in Buenos Aires meeting to play the card game truco on a hot summer night – when things suddenly get eerie.
The power goes out and a poisonous snowfall starts to blanket the city, killing thousands of people instantly. The survivors must get answers, quickly, as they start to grasp the true strength of their invisible enemy.
Based on Héctor Germán Oesterheld’s 1950s comic of the same name, The Eternaut portrays apocalypse through a deeply local and political lens – and in doing so has struck a chord in Argentina.
Directed by Bruno Stagnaro and led by Argentine film icon Ricardo Darín, as protagonist Juan Salvo, the series emphasises the power of collective heroism, and subtly critiques the current government’s uncompromising neoliberal approach.
It also pulses with national pride. Buenos Aires is not glamorized; real neighbourhoods are shown as classic Argentine tango, rock and folk plays in the background. Most importantly, Argentine identity is celebrated through themes of community spirit, grassroots resistance, and ingenuity in times of crisis.
The Eternaut feels both timely and timeless. Its slogan, “no one survives alone,” resonates for a country that has been long marked by both trauma and resistance efforts.
Its emotional weight is further deepened by Oesterheld’s legacy, including the tragic disappearance of him and his family members under the military rule of the 1970s.
With a second season on the way, this series is a powerful ode to Argentina.
Murderbot, Apple’s adaptation of Martha Wells’ science-fiction novella, All Systems Red (2017) is a satisfying combination of action, sci-fi and comedy. The show centres on a security unit (SecUnit) – an indentured private security cyborg – who secretly cracks the programming of its governing chip, granting itself autonomy.
Murderbot (Alexander Skarsgård), as it dubs itself, is both horrified and fascinated by humans. It’s far more afraid of eye contact, emotions and direct conversation than any physical danger. It’s also obsessed with mainlining media, particularly the ridiculous soap opera The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon.
Murderbot is hired, reluctantly, by some hippy scientists from a group of “freehold” planets – ones that exist outside the Corporation Rim – to act as protection on a scientific expedition. It goes quickly awry.
Wells’ award-winning novella, the first in an equally good series, limits us to the first-person perspective of the sarcastic cyborg. The series expands this frame beautifully, building on the source material’s dry humour to create a world that is both goofy and grounded.
And while there are serious themes at play, such as the way SecUnits are effectively enslaved, and the violent capitalist dominance of the Corporation Rim, the show is not heavy. Skarsgård offers a pitch-perfect performance of the awkward, anxious robot – its eyes flickering in horror as the scientists try to befriend it.
The opening minutes of the first episode are clumsy and on-the-nose, but ignore them. This otherwise well-designed and well-directed show cracks along with brisk, highly-entertaining 22-minute episodes.
– Erin Harrington
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, season two
Disney+
Season one of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives had us hooked at the end of 2024. Now, the women have returned for an explosive 10-episode second season.
The reality series follows a group of Mormon women living in Utah. While the title may have you anticipating stories of faith and motherhood, the show is more focused on the personal lives of Mormon mothers who rose to TikTok fame due to scandal and infamy.
Season one saw the women grapple with balancing traditional Mormon values with their online lives and subsequent businesses (along with the fallout from a “soft-swinging scandal”). Season two further highlights infidelity, jealously and money.
Old characters are brought back, with finger-pointing ex-husbands and former alienated friends adding to the fray. Police are called, insults are thrown and many of the women delve deeper into their pasts.
The show flips flops between difficult moments such as processing the death of loved ones and difficult pregnancies, with parties and poorly executed party games. At one point the women play pregnancy roulette (a game no one should recommend), and take pregnancy tests which are anonymously read out to the group. Chaos ensues.
And after watching, you can search for the TikTok accounts of the stars and watch new drama unfold in real-time – or watch them “correct” and expand on past situations based on their own perspectives – far removed from show’s editors.
– Edith Jennifer Hill
Deaf President Now!
Apple TV+
Deaf President Now! is a stirring documentary about an iconic student uprising at Gallaudet University, the world’s only Deaf university, in 1988. The film chronicles how Deaf students – tired of being led by hearing leadership – decided to take things in their own hands come the 1988 Gallaudet presidential election.
With two of the three candidates being Deaf, the appointment of Elisabeth Zinser, a hearing candidate unfamiliar with Deaf culture, sparked outrage. Fuelled by decades of marginalisation, the students barricaded campus gates, burned effigies of Zinser and marched to the Capitol, calling for Deaf leadership in Deaf spaces.
It worked. The protest forced Zinser’s resignation and ushered in Irving King Jordan, Gallaudet’s first Deaf president.
The film juxtaposes historic footage with present-day interviews with key leaders of the movement, allowing them to tell their stories their own way. These reflections, delivered in American Sign Language (ASL), underscore how storytelling itself can become an act of resistance for Deaf people.
At the same time, the documentary wrestles with a paradox. Co-directed by Deaf activist Nyle DiMarco and hearing filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, the film exemplifies how Deaf storytelling still often has hearing involvement, especially when the story is packaged for a mainstream audience.
Nevertheless, the release of Deaf President Now! couldn’t have been more timely. With disability rights in the United States threatened under Trump, the film is a call to action. It reminds us Deaf culture isn’t just about language: it’s about Pride, self-determination and visibility.
In Lorcan Finnegan’s The Surfer, our unnamed protagonist (Nicolas Cage) is returning to his former Australian home from the United States. He is newly divorced, and trying to buy a beachside property to win back his family.
He takes his teenage son (Finn Little) for a surf near the property, but they are run off by an unfriendly pack of locals.
Returning alone to the beachside car park to make some calls, he is besieged there by the same gang, and this continues over the next several days. The gang is led by a terrifying middle-aged Andrew Tate-esque influencer, Scally (Julian McMahon), who runs the beach like a combination of a frat bro party and wellness retreat.
It is impossible to think of an actor other than Cage who could make a character like this so enjoyable to watch. Cage’s distinctively American confidence has no resistance to the terrifying switches of Australian masculinity from friendly to teasing to violent.
The Surfer is an absolute blast. A lot of the fun is in anticipating each dreadful humiliation – and it somehow turning out worse than you could have expected.
The Surfer beautifully captures the natural surroundings, stunning views and shimmering heat of Australian coastal summer. At the same time, a confined, semi-urban feature like a beachside car park feels bleak and uninviting.
As a film setting, it is both a spectacular wide-open vista and stiflingly claustrophobic – a perfect mechanism for The Surfer’s psychological horror.
The story of serial killers, Fred and Rose West, has been highly narrativised since their shocking crimes were discovered in Gloucester in 1994. The horror of the Wests lies in the juxtaposition of their seemingly ordinary suburban family and what was hidden beneath the foundations of their home.
Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story takes us back to the moment of that revelation via previously unheard interview tapes and recordings of the property search – and of Rose while she was kept in a safe house. Family home videos add to the disturbing sense of the couple’s duplicity.
Interviews with the family of some of the victims emphasise the ongoing pain caused by the Wests, who preyed on vulnerable young women. Meanwhile, Fred’s interviews reinforce his determination to protect his wife: “I trained Rose to do what I wanted. That is why our marriage worked out so well.”
Many details of the Wests’ true horror, however, are absent: the incredible torture suffered by the victims; Fred and Rose’s own childhoods of abuse and Fred’s earlier assault of young girls, including his own sister; and any reference to the couple’s surviving children and the extraordinary abuse they suffered.
The horror of this new documentary is present in the couple’s habitual lies, their casual attitude to violence and murder, and their refusal to take responsibility for their many crimes. Yet it only scratches the surface of the Wests’ true horror story.
– Jessica Gildersleeve
The Four Seasons
Netflix
The Four Seasons follows three 50-something affluent couples as they holiday together over the course of a year.
Friends since college, the group’s easy camaraderie is upended by Nick’s (Steve Carroll) bombshell decision to leave his seemingly unsuspecting wife, Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), after 25 years of marriage. The announcement sends shockwaves through the other couples, testing their own relationships.
Adapted from Alan Alda’s bittersweet 1981 comedy of the same name, the series preserves the film’s narrative conceit, unfolding over four seasonal mini trips. Episode one opens in full spring at Nick and Anne’s bucolic lake house.
Given the luxury on display, you’d be forgiven for mistaking The Four Seasons as another entry in the “rich-people-behaving-badly” genre. But while there’s plenty of quips and snarky humour, what unfolds is ultimately much kinder – less a scathing indictment of wealth and more a gentle exploration of the banalities of love and middle age.
The show’s creators make the most of the expanded running time to humanise the sextet. The open marriage between gregarious Italian Claude (Marco Calvini) and husband Danny (a marvellous Colman Domingo) updates the source material without sliding into tokenism or homonormativity.
The prickly Type-A Kate (Tina Fey) and peacekeeper Jack (Will Forte) provide the series’ beating heart, in a relationship that feels lived-in and familiar.
Despite its focus on ageing, loss, mortality and grief, The Four Seasons offers comfort viewing at its finest, best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a loved one who’s known you for decades.
– Rachel Williamson
Gemma King receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Claudia Sandberg, Edith Jennifer Hill, Erin Harrington, Grace Russell, Jessica Gildersleeve, Rachel Williamson, Samuel Martin, and Sofya Gollan do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
In an emergency, police are often the first called to the scene. But they are rarely equipped to deal with complex mental health crises.
Following recent parliamentary inquiries and royal commissions there has been a push – led by researchers, advocates and some senior police officials – for a shift to a health-led and paramedic-first response.
South Australia is one of a number of states trialling a program based on a “co-responder” model. This means trained specialists accompany police to some mental health call-outs in the community.
So, how do co-responder programs work? And are they effective? Here’s what the evidence says.
The current situation
Mental health legislation in all states and territoriesgives police the power to use “reasonable force” to transport people who “appear to have a mental illness” to hospital to prevent harm.
In most cases, this involves police taking people experiencing mental health crises to hospital emergency departments, without help from mental health clinicians or paramedics.
Those who need mental health support may not need a hospital stay.
One study found only one in five (23%) of those taken to emergency by police – usually after expressing intention to self-harm – were admitted.
The strain on police resources is also significant. For example, in New South Wales, police now respond to triple zero calls about mental health crises in the community every nine minutes (in Victoria it’s every ten).
Criminalising mental health
The mere presence of police alone can escalate already heightened emotional situations.
Yet the main reason police take people to hospital is for self-harm or suicidal distress, and most are not deemed to be of risk to others.
What do people with mental health issues want instead?
In our research, conducted in 2021–2022, we interviewed 20 people across Australia who’d had police intervene when they had a mental health crisis.
Those we spoke to often had multiple experiences of police call-outs over their lifetime.
They told us excessive use of force by police had traumatising and long-term effects. Many were subject to pepper spray, tasers, police dogs, batons, handcuffs and restraints, despite not being accused of committing criminal offences.
For example, Alex*, said:
I was having an anxiety attack, and they pepper sprayed me. I had bruises all over my hands from the handcuffs they put on really roughly, even though I wasn’t under arrest. Then they took me to hospital.
In our study, people with mental health issues said they would prefer an ambulance-led response wherever possible, without police attending at all.
They also wanted to be linked to therapeutic and community-based services, including mental health peer support, housing, disability support and family violence services.
What are co-responder programs?
Co-responder programs aim to de-escalate mental health incidents, reduce the number of emergency department presentations and link people experiencing mental health crises with services.
These programs, such as the one being trialled in South Australia, mean mental health clinicians (for example, social workers, counsellors or psychologists) attend some mental health incidents alongside police.
Peer-reviewed research shows these kinds of responses can be effective when compared to traditional police-led interventions.
The success of programs in the United States and Canada shows many mental health crises can safely managed without police involvement, for example by addressing issues such as homelessness and addiction with health workers, and reducing the number of arrests.
Co-responder programs are not universally available. Often, they do not operate after usual business hours or across regions.
There is also a lack of long-term evaluations of these programs. This means what we understand about their implementation, design and effectiveness over time can be mixed.
More broadly, the mental health sector is facing significant and ongoing labour shortages across Australia, posing another resourcing challenge.
How can responses to mental health crises be improved?
Last year, the final report from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommended paramedics should act as first responders in mental health crises wherever possible, instead of police, diverting triple zero calls to Ambulance Victoria.
However that reform has been delayed, with no indication of when it may be implemented.
A 2023 NSW parliamentary inquiry also remarked on the need to explore reducing police involvement.
Co-responder and ambluance-first models offer an improvement.
But our research suggests people with lived experience of mental health issues want more than ambulances replacing the police as crisis responders.
They need a mental health system that supports them and provides what they needed, when they need it: compassionate, timely and non-coercive responses.
*Name has been changed.
If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Panos Karanikolas is a member of the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC). He received funding for this research from the National Disability Research Partnership as part of a partnership with VMIAC.
Chris Maylea receives funding from the Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, and national and state legal aid commissions.
Hamilton Kennedy does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
SACRAMENTO– Governor Gavin Newsom and Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis issued the following statement regarding the death of Baldwin Park Police Department Officer Samuel Riveros:
“We mourn the tragic loss of one of California’s brave law enforcement officers, who was killed in the line of duty while selflessly protecting the community. Our deepest condolences go out to Officer Riveros’ family, loved ones, and colleagues. We share in their grief and honor his sacrifice made in service to the public’s safety.”
On May 31, 2025, Officer Riveros was among the officers who were immediately met with gunfire after answering a call at a residence, resulting in fatal injuries to Officer Riveros.
Officer Riveros, 35, began his career with the Baldwin Park Police Department in 2016.
He is survived by his mother and sister.
In honor of Officer Riveros, flags at the State Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space will be flown at half-staff.
Press releases, Public safety
Recent news
May 31, 2025
News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring May 2025, as “Mental Health Awareness Month.”The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONDuring Mental Health Awareness Month, we recognize the…
May 30, 2025
News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Connie Nakano, of Elk Grove, has been appointed Assistant Director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Equity at the Department of Aging. Nakano has been Assistant Director of…
May 30, 2025
News Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring May 2025, as “Foster Care Month.”The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below: PROCLAMATIONDuring Foster Care Month, we reaffirm to the more than 35,000 foster…
Police are investigating an assault in the city earlier this morning.
Just before 5am on Monday 2 June, emergency services were called to a hotel on Morphett Street in Adelaide after reports of an assault.
Patrols arrived and found three men with stab wounds. All three men were taken to hospital; two men are in a stable condition and the third man is in a critical but stable condition.
Investigations are continuing, but it is believed the people involved are all known to each other and this was not a random incident.
Anyone with information that may assist with the investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. You can anonymously provide information to Crime Stoppers online at https://crimestopperssa.com.au or free call 1800 333 000.
A police officer who has dedicated her career to supporting her community has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Senior Constable Terri Middleton, a School Community Officer based in Greymouth on the West Coast, has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for Services to New Zealand Police and the community.
In 34 years in Police, Terri’s work has included work with young people in and out of school, victims of child abuse and family harm, in drug education, Blue Light and inside the Gloriavale community (citation below).
Today Commissioner Richard Chambers led the congratulations.
“I congratulate Terri on this fantastically well-deserved honour,” he says.
“I’m absolutely delighted to see her awesome work in her community recognised at the highest level.
“It is impossible to count the lives Terri has changed for the better, or quantify the harm prevented by her engagement with some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
“I’m proud of the great work our people do every day to support their communities and, as a former Tasman District Commander, especially proud to see this honour go to a Tasman colleague who exemplifies the very best of community policing.”
Terri says she is humbled and deeply honoured.
“It is a privilege to be involved in so many people’s life experiences,” she says.
“I am passionate about helping people and trying to make a difference and for this to happen you need to be well supported by others.”
She thanks her Police Leadership Team, her colleagues and her family.
“I very much want to thank them as I know it isn’t easy for any family to have a police officer in the mix – there are definitely some challenges. I very much appreciate their love and support as I couldn’t do my job without them.”
CITATION
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit For Services to New Zealand Police and the community.
Senior Constable Terri Middleton
Terri Middleton joined New Zealand Police in 1991 in Greymouth, spending nine years as an interviewer and investigating child abuse, and as the West Coast School Community Officer since 2002.
Ms Middleton has been instrumental in delivering education and prevention initiatives into all West Coast schools, as well as volunteering thousands of hours to local organisations, sporting clubs and charity events.
She has introduced numerous initiatives over and above her School Community Officer role including Youth Boot Camps, life skills programmes and others, intensive programmes requiring considerable coordination.
More recently, she has been a driving force for a Prevention First Drug Education across the region, both within schools and the broader community. She has chaired the West Coast Blue Light branch since 2010 and is the West Coast Health and Safety Area Representative for the Police Association and Welfare Officer.
She developed Te Wa Maaku in 2021, a community approach to help women exposed to family harm through fitness and wellbeing.
In 2015, Ms Middleton initiated engagement with the school principal of Gloriavale Christian Community that led to a multi-agency response of active engagement with Gloriavale, enabling her to build trust and co-deliver a range of initiatives that would otherwise have not been introduced to the young people of the community.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
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The ACT Government will install a ‘midblock pedestrian crossing’ with traffic lights on Canberra Avenue near Burke Crescent.
A midblock pedestrian crossing is a designated area for pedestrians to cross a street between intersections.
The crossing will improve safety for students commuting to and from St Edmund’s and St Clare’s Colleges, as well as the broader Canberra community.
The ACT Government will fast-track design of the crossing to support the approval process and enable construction. More information will be provided to the local school community on timing in the next couple of months.
The announcement comes during National Road Safety Week 2025, a time to reflect on the impact of road trauma and the collective responsibility to keep our roads safe.
Everyone has a role in road safety. Each action behind the wheel makes a difference.
All Canberrans are being urged to take the pledge to drive so others survive.
This means:
obey the speed limit
wear a seatbelt
don’t drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Our CBR is the ACT Government’s key channel to connect with Canberrans and keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the city. Our CBR includes a monthly print edition, email newsletter and website.
You can easily opt in or out of the newsletter subscription at any time.
Papua New Guinea has five months remaining to fix its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) systems or face the severe repercussions of being placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) “grey list”.
The FATF has imposed an October 2025 deadline, and the government is scrambling to prove its commitment to global partners.
Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister James Marape said Treasury Minister, Ian Ling-Stuckey had been given the responsibility to lead a taskforce to fix PNG’s issues associated with money laundering and terrorist financing.
“I summoned all agency heads to a critical meeting last week giving them clear direction, in no uncertain terms, that they work day and night to avert the possibility of us getting grey listed,” Marape said.
“This review comes around every five years.
“We have only three or four areas that are outstanding that we must dispatch forthwith.”
PNG is no stranger to the FATF grey list, having been placed under increased monitoring in 2014 before successfully being removed in 2016.
Deficiencies highlighted However, a recent assessment by the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) highlighted ongoing deficiencies, particularly in the effectiveness of PNG’s AML/CTF regime.
While the country has made strides in establishing the necessary laws and regulations (technical compliance), the real challenge lies in PNG’s implementation and enforcement.
The core of the problem, according to analysts, is a lack of effective prosecution and punishment for money laundering and terrorism financing.
High-risk sectors such as corruption, fraud against government programmes, illegal logging, illicit fishing, and tax evasion, remain largely unchecked by successful legal actions.
Capacity gaps within key agencies like the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and the Office of the Public Prosecutor have been cited as significant hurdles.
Recent drug hauls have also highlighted existing flaws in detection in the country’s financial systems.
The implications of greylisting are far-reaching and potentially devastating for a developing nation like PNG, which is heavily reliant on foreign investment and international financial flows.
Impact on economy Deputy Opposition leader James Nomane warned in Parliament that greylisting “will severely affect the economy, investor confidence, and make things worse for Papua New Guinea with respect to inflationary pressures, the cost of imports, and a whole host of issues”.
If PNG is greylisted, the immediate economic fallout could be substantial. It would signal to global financial institutions that PNG carries a heightened risk for financial crimes, potentially leading to a sharp decline in foreign direct investment.
Critical resource projects, including Papua LNG, P’nyang LNG, Wafi-Golpu, and Frieda River Mines, could face delays or even be halted as investors become wary of the increased financial and reputational risks.
Beyond investment, the cost of doing business in PNG could also rise. International correspondent banks, vital conduits for cross-border transactions, may de-risk by cutting ties or scaling back operations with PNG financial institutions.
This “de-risking” could make it more expensive and complex for businesses and individuals alike to conduct international transactions, leading to higher fees and increased scrutiny.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.